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PIA News Service - Friday, August 7, 2009

Feature: Practice a healthy lifestyle for long life.In this time of fiscal crisis, we should always remember the saying “health is wealth”. It is very difficult to be sick nowadays. Hospitalization is very expensive. Even if you are confined in a government hospital, you have to spend for laboratory examinations, medicines and professional fees of the doctors..Healthy diets, regular exercise, abstinence from smoking and moderate alcohol intake are key components of a healthy lifestyle..With the changing lifestyle of Filipinos, chronic degenerative diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer are becoming significant public health problems. .Based on the 2003-2004 National Nutrition Health Survey (NNHeS) conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology in collaboration with the Department of Health and 14 medical societies, results revealed that 9 in every 10 Filipino adults have at least one risk factor to cardiovascular disease (CVD). The following risk factors listed from highest to lowest prevalence rate include, physical activity, smoking, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes..Smoking is the most prevalent risk factor of cardiovascular diseases including heart attack and stroke among Filipinos. This accounts for about 28,694 deaths in 2003 as reported by Dr. Antonio L. Dans, Chairman of the NNHeS Technical Committee. In spite of the anti-smoking campaign, Filipinos are smoking more (34.8%) compared to Singaporeans (24.2%) and the Americans (24.1%). Android or apple-shape obesity, a common risk factor of chronic degenerative disease is another risk factor of hypertension. Android obesity has remained more prevalent among females (18.3%) than males (3.1%) using waist circumference. .How do you practice a healthy lifestyle? Here are some simple tips to follow:

.• Eat breakfast that is high in complex carbohydrates like oatmeal, rootcrops, whole grain cereals, and bread.

.• Avoid excessive intake of sugar and salt.

.• Exercise regularly. Perform aerobic exercise regularly for at least 3 to 5 times a week for 20-30 minutes or more.

.• Regular exercise burns off energy thereby assisting weight control or reduction. It also helps improve blood circulation, muscle tone and the efficiency of heart and lungs. It also helps one to relax, cope with stress, and promotes sound sleep. Exercise enhances psychological well-being, improves self-esteem, and maintains motivation.

.• Do not smoke. The best rule is never to start smoking because once the habit is established, giving up smoking is not easy. It can only be done if the smoker sets his mind to stop.

.• Drink alcoholic beverages in moderation. Moderate alcohol consumption means no more than one drink per day for women and no more than two drinks per day for men. One drink of alcoholic beverage means 1 bottle (12 ounces) beer or ½ glass wine or 1 jigger (1 ounce) whiskey or 1 ½ ounce of gin.

.Let us all practice a healthy lifestyle to stay healthy and to live longer.

.The 10th message of the Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos (NGF) states that “For a healthy lifestyle and good nutrition, exercise regularly, do not smoke and avoid drinking alcoholic beverages”. This health advice is not only to prevent chronic degenerative diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases (CVD), diabetes mellitus, hyper-tension, and cancer but is also helpful in preventing osteoporosis.

.The NGF was developed by a technical working group of health and nutrition professionals led by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST).

.Osteoporosis is a crippling bone disease where the bones lose mass and density, resulting in large pores in the bones that become. It is also called the “silent disease” because it may not be diagnosed at an early stage until a fracture usually occurs in the hip, wrist or spine.

.There are many contributing factors to the development of osteoporosis. These include being female, being thin or having a small frame, advanced age, hormonal status (irregular menstruation or menopause), eating disorders (anorexia or bulimia), use of certain medications (corticosteroids and anti-convulsants), a low-calcium diet, inactive lifestyle, cigarette smoking and excessive alcohol use.

.Adequate intake of calcium and vitamin D throughout life may lower the risk of developing osteoporosis. During childhood and adolescence, bones increase in size and mass and continue to add more until age 30 years or when the peak bone mass is reached.

.Peak bone mass is the point when the maximum amount of bone is achieved. Also at age 30, bone loss starts depending on how strong the bones are. The stronger the bones, the lesser the chance of losing bone mass and density at an early age.

.Studies have concluded that exercise helps build bone mass and density during the formative years. Exercise is important for balance and coordination to prevent bone-fracturing falls among older adults.

.It is therefore important to engage in weight-bearing exercise to maximize bone strength and density to prevent osteoporosis later in life. Weight-bearing exercise causes the bones and muscles to work against gravity while they bear the weight of the body. Such exercise includes walking, running, jogging, skating, aerobics or dancing. These should be done for 30-60 minutes at a time, three to five days a week for optimal results. Resistance exercises, such as weight training are also important because they help improve muscle mass and bone strength.

.Smoking delays healthy bone development by making calcium less efficiently absorbed by the body. Smokers do not achieve the maximum bone growth and have lower bone mass, making them susceptible to osteoporosis.

.Excessive alcohol intake can lead to increased calcium loss especially for individuals 35 years and over or in the pre-menopausal stage. The calcium loss may be due to reduced calcium absorbability which may result to bone loss and eventually lead to osteoporosis.

.Adequate calcium in the diet and healthy lifestyle, like regular exercise, avoiding smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages, do not only help promote healthy bones but more importantly help prevent osteoporosis.

.On August 3, 2009 at 4:45 in the afternoon at Purok-1B, Durian Street, Barangay Taglatawan, Bayugan, Agusan del Sur, elements of Bayugan Police Station led by PO3 Weldon Sacro, deputized PDEA operatives apprehended a certain Dylan Caberte, 38 years old, married and resident of said place for violation of section 11 of RA 9165.

.Subject is now detained at Bayugan Police Station for proper disposition. (PNP-13/ PIA-Caraga).Report on shooting incident .On August 4, 2009 around 9:00 o'clock in the morning at Purok-1 Barangay Las Navas, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur, one Nenita Goloran, of legal age, married, a Barangay Utility and a resident of the above-mentioned place was shot with an unknown caliber of firearm by two unidentified perpetrators.

.Prosperidad Municipal Police Station personnel responded and proceeded to the place of incident to conduct investigation for the possible identification of the suspects.

.Initial investigation disclosed that the victim had just paid her obligation to a credit collector at the said place and on her way to school when the suspects riding on a red Honda XRM single motorcycle wearing bonnets without any apparent reason one of the suspects shot the victim hitting her head causing her instant death.

.Suspects then fled to unknown direction after the incident. Motive of the killing is yet to be established by Prosperidad Municipal Police Station and a thorough investigation is on going for the early solution of the case. (PNP-13/ PIA-Caraga).Report on traffic accident

.On August 3, 2009 around 10:30 in the evening at the National Highway of kilometer 6 Tabon, Bislig City, a single motorcycle driven by Jonard Cortez with backriders Joe Artiza, 20 years old, single, a CAFGU member and a resident of Rajah Cabungsoan, Lingig, Surigao del Sur; Rose Martinez and Roselle Golosino fell down the road injuring both the driver and his passengers.

.Injured victims were brought by the responding policemen from Bislig City Police Station and Security Guards from the nearby TRANSCO Compound to Babanao Family Clinic for medical treatment.

.Joe Artiza who suffered serious injuries was referred to Bislig District Hospital for further medication but was pronounced dead by the attending physician after minutes of confinement while the two ladies who suffered minor injuries were discharged from the hospital. Jonard Cortez (driver) voluntarily surrendered to Bislig City Police Station. Investigation of the case is still ongoing. (PNP-13/ PIA-Caraga)

.Report on harassment

.On August 3, 2009 around 11:00 o'clock in the evening, the 58th IB Phil Army Detachment under 2LT Nestor Endozo located at Barangay Pantukan, Carrascal, Surigao del Sur was fired upon by more or less ten NPA/Communist Terrorists (CTs).

.The enemy fired at them more or less 5O rounds of ammos with M203 Grenade Launcher but unable to inflict casualty on the government troops.

.A hot pursuit and clearing operation is still on going. (PNP-13/ PIA-Caraga)

.Said fire razed three residential houses and a computer shop. Personnel from Bureau of Fire Protection responded to the said incident and declared fire under control after 10 minutes of firefight.

.Elements of Bislig City Police Station provide security at the area during the incident. Said incident was allegedly caused by unattended cellular phone, which was being recharged. Estimated damage incurred is more or less PhP800,000.00. (PNP-13/ PIA-Caraga)